HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1221

whether any and what amount in value of the damages will be
caused thereby for which the owner or occupant of any rights
or interest, claimed in any ground or improvement ought to
be compensated, over and above the amount in value of bene-
fits which will thereby accrue to said owner or occupant there-
of, and ascertain what amount in value of benefits will there-
by accrue to any lot or parcel of ground by or through which
the same may pass, or improvements made, or any other pro-
perty or to the owner or occupant thereof, and which said lot
or parcel of ground, or the owner or occupant thereof ought
to pay. They shall locate boundaries and prepare an explana-
tory map giving a description of the road opened, closed, ex-
tended, widened, straightened, or bridge or drain, which each
separate lot or parcel of ground deemed to have sustained
damage or received benefit, and they shall, within twenty
days, return to the County Commissioners such maps, together
with the amount of damage awarded such owner or occupant
and the amount of benefits assessed to any lot or parcel of
ground or the owner thereof, together with a certificate of
their qualifications, which may be ratified or rejected or al-
lowed or amended in whole or in part by the County Commis-
sioners; provided, that the County Commissioners shall give
ten days' notice at least by publication in a newspaper pub-
lished in St. Mary's County or by ten days' notice at least in
writing to each property owner so interested, of the time set
for final action on the return of said examiners, and the County
Commissioners shall act on said return within twenty days
after the expiration of said notice, and may issue new com-
mission, as in their judgment may seem proper; and before
proceeding to actually open, widen, extend, straighten or close
any such road, bridge or drain, the County Commissioners
shall pay or render to the person, his agent, guardian or rep-
resentative the amount of damages so awarded; and if any-
one shall feel aggrieved by the decision of the County Com-
missioners in any matter affected by their decision, he may
appeal to the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County by giving1
written notice within twenty days from said decision filed
with the Clerk of the County Commissioners of his desire to
appeal, and on filing of said notice it shall be the duty of
said Clerk to deliver all papers connected therewith to the
Clerk of the said Court, and the same proceedings shall be
had on the appeal as in cases of appeal from judgments of
justices of the peace; provided, nevertheless, that the County
Commissioners may decline to open, lay out, extend, widen,
grade or straighten any road, bridge or drain, notwithstanding
the decision of the said Court; but in case of refusal to do so
they shall be liable for all costs incurred and shall pay the
same; all benefits assessed by virtue of the above provisions